, 1887-09-13
is HE A CRANK 2
Professor Menthol OF New York
Unbosoms Himself.
The Alchemist Who Attempted to
Manufacture Diamonds.
He Fails in His Endeavors to Re-
vive a Dead convict.

j. G.. Menthol. assistant superintend-
ent of the New York Chemical works was
g west bound passenger last evening.
MIR. Menthol is enjoying his first vacation,
having labored continuously and assid
uously at his present calling for the better
part of half a century. The gentleman is
one of the renowned scientists of the age.
A student by nature, he studied and con-
tinues to investigate the wonders, phe-
nomena and seeming paradoxes OF that
wondrous dame. He is a deep and
thoughtful scholar and one who never
tires in his extensive researches for
knowledge. Mr.. Menthol is a recognized
authority upon all leading questions of a
botanical, NEUROLOGICAL or chemical
nature, and has contributed well written,
comprehensive and widely quoted articles
upon his fayorite subjects to the leading
magazines. Times without number has
he received higly lattering offers for his
exclusive service in writing for various
periodicals upon the scientific and pop
ular subjects chosen by himself. He
has steadfastly refused to forsake his
chosen field and becomes more and more
faithful to his private theories and pet
hobbies as he performs his duties for the
company by which he is employed or
makes mysterious experiments 10 the
wonderful laboratory which forms a por-
ton of his residence on the Hudson river.
The man aspires to gain a world wide
reputation as an inventor, which in his
line means hat he will become known as
little short of c%onjuror or modern alchem-
list, and as such would be looked upon
with the suspicion accorded to that class
of students aver in this presumably ad-
vanced age.
For ten years, perhaps longer, Menthol
fruitlessly endeavored to manufacture
gold, and his ardent admirers still insist
that had he continued to investigate an
other twelve month the lost mines of
Ophir would bave been rendered worth
less upon their discovery.
Failing with metal he studied the
stones. He actually succeeded in manu-
featuring rubies, but learning that they
we're naturally declining. in value ceased
to place them on the market. The &C.
centric once brought suit for damages in
the sun of 800, 900 against a New York
daily p which had the e~tfrontery to
publish a minute description of his resi-
dence, for the reason that the reporter
incidentally mentioned hat every article
OF furniture in his house was studded with
rubies. the harness of his magnificent
team is literally covered with red stones,
while. the monogram on his carriage door
is formed with rubies and an occasional
diamond.
Menthol was confident hat diamonds of
the purest water could be turned out of
his laboratory at a very low figure. The
white stones were simply carbon. Coal,
charcoal and cotton we're largely composed
of the same gas. The material in its
aeriform shape was easily controlled, why
not solidify it2 The Faust of the nine
tenth century discontinued the expert
ments which he planned should lead to a
wholesale and almost c%ostless production
of the beautiful and valu .ble
but a few months since, on account of
failing eyesight and weak lungs. The
professor assured a LEADER reporter last
evening, and backed his assertions by in
disputable evidence, that it was one OF
the simplest things under the sun to draw
a large diamond from a crucible after a
few hours of labor. The apparently in
surmountable difficulty was that the stones
were impure; in fact but little better than
moonstones and not so white as an ordi
nary topaz. The proper color once OBJ
tainable the problem was easily solved
and South Africa depopulated.
The chemists latest fad was nothing
less than the manufacture of sponges and
the consequent bankruptcy of nature in
that line. He finally succeeded in pro-
ducing a pretty fair article for rough work
from pine shavings, rags and soap weed.
They were almost perfect in quality, but
lacked durability.
Prof. Menthol has also dabbled in the
ghoulish mysteries of vivisection. His
hair turned gray, his body became par
alyzed and his reason fed when he failed
to intuse new life into the corpse of a
criminal whose disgraced remains we're
given to him SO soon as the heart OF the
felon had ceased to pulsate. 1t was two
years before the scientist regained his
mental balance and he never fully recov-
cred from the terrible shook to his high
strung nerves.
The distinguished chemist once formed
a copartnership with Edison, but sud
denly forsook MEMO park on account of
a slight misunderstanding With the deaf
mute wife of the electrician.
For One Week Only.
Newmarkets, listers, the most stylish
wraps, English walking Jackets and gen
tlon,an's fur ooatc may ha saap tb;o uyaoL